The role of phenotypic plasticity of life history and behavioural traits during speciation processes in Acanthoscelides obtectus

Fenotipska plastičnost, kao univerzalno svojstvo svih organizama, predstavlja sposobnost jednog genotipa da u različitim uslovima životne sredine razvije različite fenotipske vrednosti osobina. Ovaj fenomen predstavlja važan mehanizam fenotipskog variranja insekatа i nalazi se u osnovi formiranja različitih pravaca evolucionih promena njihovih populacija uzrokujući adaptivnu divergenciju i posledičnu međupopulacionu reproduktivnu izolaciju. Od posebne važnosti je i uloga fenotipske plastičnosti u procesima ekološke specijacije, kada ekološki zasnovana divergentna selekcija između životnih sredina ograničava protok gena između populacija. Koristeći pogodnosti laboratorijske evolucije, ova studija proučava osobine životne istorije, njihova međusobna ograničenja i obrasce plastičnih odgovora, populaciono-ekološke i selekcione obrasce kao i promenu reproduktivnog ponašanja kod dve grupe laboratorijskih populacija fitofagnog insekta, Acanthoscelides obtectus, koje su evoluirale na različitim biljkama domaćinima (pasulj, Phaseolus vulgaris i naut, Cicer arietinum). Populacije selektovane na različitim biljkama pokazuju jasne razlike u životnim strategijama i stepenu plastičnosti osobina životne istorije i ponašanja. Načelno, populacije selektovane na pasulju imaju izraženiju sposobnost plastičnog odgovora na variranje identiteta biljke domaćina u poređenju sa populacijama selektovanim na nautu. Selekcioni režimi pokazuju i umeren stepen reproduktivne izolacije čime se ističe značaj divergentne selekcije u početnim fazama procesa nastanka novih vrsta.Phenotypic plasticity, a universal feature of all organisms, represents genotypes’ ability to produce alternative phenotypes in different environmental conditions. In insects, this phenomenon represents an important mechanism of phenotypic variation and it is fundamental for the establishment of different evolutionary trajectories of their populations causing adaptive divergence and consequential interpopulation reproductive isolation. Phenotypic plasticity is of particular importance during the process of ecological speciation, when ecologically based divergent selection between environments reduces gene flow among populations. Using the benefits of laboratory evolution, this study investigates life history traits, their trade-offs and plasticity patterns, population dynamics and selection patterns, as well as changes in reproductive behaviour, in two sets of laboratory populations of a phytophagous insect, Acanthoscelides obtectus, evolved on different host plants (white beans, Phaseolus vulgaris and chickpeas, Cicer arietinum). Populations selected on different plant hosts demonstrate distinct life history strategies and plasticity levels of life history and behavioural traits. Generally, populations selected on beans demonstrate prominent ability to plastically respond to host plant variation compared to chickpea selected populations. Selection regimes demonstrate moderate level of reproductive isolation emphasizing the importance of divergent selection in the first phases of the speciation

Host-associated divergence in the activity of digestive enzymes in two populations of the gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)

The gypsy moth is a generalist insect pest with an extremely wide host range. Adaptive responses of digestive enzymes are important for the successful utilization of plant hosts that differ in the contents and ratios of constituent nutrients and allelochemicals. In the present study, we examined the responses of α-amylase, trypsin, and leucine aminopeptidase to two tree hosts (suitable oak, Quercus cerris, and unsuitable locust tree, Robinia pseudoacacia) in the fourth, fifth, and sixth instars of gypsy moth larvae originating from oak and locust tree forest populations (hereafter assigned as Quercus and Robinia populations, respectively). Gypsy moths from the Robinia forest had been adapting to this unsuitable host for more than 40 generations. To test for population-level host plant specialization, we applied a two-population × two-host experimental design. We compared the levels, developmental patterns, and plasticities of the activities of enzymes. The locust tree diet increased enzyme activity in the fourth instar and reduced activity in advanced instars of the Quercus larvae in comparison to the oak diet. These larvae also exhibited opposite developmental trajectories on the two hosts, i.e. activity increased on the oak diet and decreased on the locust tree diet with the progress of instar. Larvae of the Robinia population were characterized by reduced plasticity of enzyme activity and its developmental trajectories. In addition, elevated trypsin activity in response to an unsuitable host was observed in all instar larvae of the Robinia population, which demonstrated that Robinia larvae had an improved digestive performance than did Quercus larvae

The consequences of sexual selection in well-adapted and maladapted populations of bean beetles.

Whether sexual selection generally promotes or impedes population persistence remains an open question. Intralocus sexual conflict (IaSC) can render sexual selection in males detrimental to the population by increasing the frequency of alleles with positive effects on male reproductive success but negative effects on female fecundity. Recent modeling based on fitness landscape theory, however, indicates that the relative impact of IaSC may be reduced in maladapted populations and that sexual selection therefore might promote adaptation when it is most needed. Here, we test this prediction using bean beetles that had undergone 80 generations of experimental evolution on two alternative host plants. We isolated and assessed the effect of maladaptation on sex-specific strengths of selection and IaSC by cross-rearing the two experimental evolution regimes on the alternative hosts and estimating within-population genetic (co)variance for fitness in males and females. Two key predictions were upheld: males generally experienced stronger selection compared to females and maladaptation increased selection in females. However, maladaptation consistently decreased male-bias in the strength of selection and IaSC was not reduced in maladapted populations. These findings imply that sexual selection can be disrupted in stressful environmental conditions, thus reducing one of the potential benefits of sexual reproduction in maladapted populations.This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Martinossi-Allibert I, Savković U, Đorđević M, Arnqvist G, Stojković B, Berger D. The consequences of sexual selection in well-adapted and maladapted populations of bean beetles, which has been published in final form at [https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.13412]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving

Sex-specific mitonuclear epistasis and the evolution of mitochondrial bioenergetics, ageing, and life history in seed beetles

The role of mitochondrial DNA for the evolution of life-history traits remains debated. We examined mitonuclear effects on the activity of the multisubunit complex of the electron transport chain (ETC) involved in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) across lines of the seed beetle Acanthoscelides obtectus selected for a short (E) or a long (L) life for more than >160 generations. We constructed and phenotyped mitonuclear introgression lines, which allowed us to assess the independent effects of the evolutionary history of the nuclear and the mitochondrial genome. The nuclear genome was responsible for the largest share of divergence seen in ageing. However, the mitochondrial genome also had sizeable effects, which were sex-specific and expressed primarily as epistatic interactions with the nuclear genome. The effects of mitonuclear disruption were largely consistent with mitonuclear coadaptation. Variation in ETC activity explained a large proportion of variance in ageing and life-history traits and this multivariate relationship differed somewhat between the sexes. In conclusion, mitonuclear epistasis has played an important role in the laboratory evolution of ETC complex activity, ageing, and life histories and these are closely associated. The mitonuclear architecture of evolved differences in life-history traits and mitochondrial bioenergetics was sex-specific.The final publication is available at Evolution (N Y). 2017;71(2):274–88. [http://ibiss-r.rcub.bg.ac.rs/123456789/2600]Evolution (2016

Developing non-formal learning activities focused on increasing evolutionary knowledge and scientific literacy

Non-formal learning activities have an important role in continuous education of the general audience, and thus provide an essential element in increasing evolutionary knowledge and scientific literacy for European citizens, beyond the formal schooling. This guide brings together explanations of how non-formal learning can be designed, with special emphasis on evaluating the activities. The guide describes common activity types and examples encountered in our scoping conducted via surveys, personal contacts, and literature and internet search. It also provides reflection points for practitioners (activity designers, educators, science communicators) to embed evaluation as a form of engaging activity participants, as well as a tool to assess the impact and improve practice.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Potential for Acanthoscelides obtectus to Adapt to New Hosts Seen in Laboratory Selection Experiments

Effective pest management strategies for a targeted pest species must rely on accurate, reliable and reproducible estimates of population dynamics. Importance of such approaches is even more conspicuous when assessing pest’s potential to utilize other stored products. Using an experimental evolution approach, we have focused our attention on a common bean pest, the seed beetle (Acanthoscelides obtectus). We looked into the potential to invade and sustain population growth on two suboptimal host plants (chickpeas and mung beans). Such an approach simulates steps of the host-shift process in storages. By analyzing population dynamics during initial encountering with a new host plant, we detected a population drop for both novel hosts. However, transgenerational development in a novel environment resulted in a constant population growth in chickpeas, but not in mung bean populations. Reversal of chickpea selected populations to original host plant has led to a severe decrease in population parameters due to low viability of immatures, while the opposite trend was detected in mung bean populations. This paper highlights the importance of good practice in estimating population dynamics for economically important species. With special emphasis on storage pest species, we discuss how this approach can be useful for estimating invading potential of pest insects

INSURANCE FRAUD IN THE FIELD OF GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE

Zavarovalniške goljufije so družbeni pojav, ki so neločljivo povezane z obstojem zavarovalnic in so v različnih oblikah prisotne na vseh področjih zavarovanj. Predstavljajo velik problem tako v Sloveniji, kot tudi drugod po svetu in se spreminjajo skupaj z družbenimi spremembami in ukrepi, ki jih zavarovalnice uvedejo zoper zavarovalniške goljufije. Za vsakim zaposlenim, ki bdi nad goljufivimi zahtevki, stoji več deset tisoč drugih, ki iščejo priložnost za hiter zaslužek. Goljufije se močno razlikujejo glede na zavarovalno vrsto, niti ena pa ni izvzeta iz zavarovalniških goljufij. To diplomsko delo proučuje zavarovalniške goljufije le ene zavarovalne vrste, zavarovanja splošne odgovornosti, ki predstavlja delček zavarovalniškega portfelja. Je posebna vrsta, ki ščiti zavarovanca pred odškodninskimi zahtevki tretjih oseb in krije škodo, ki jim jo zavarovanec povzroči. Osredotočili smo se na škodne dogodke, v katerih so oškodovanci utrpeli nepremoženjsko škodo (telesne poškodbe). Z analiziranjem internih spisov Generali zavarovalnice d.d. Ljubljana smo preverjali stopnjo razširjenosti goljufij na omenjenem področju ter preverili, kdo jih vlaga, na kakšen način in zakaj. Analizirali smo tudi vlogo, ki jo imajo odvetniki oškodovancev pri vlaganju goljufivih zahtevkov. S pomočjo primerjalne metode zavarovalnih pogojev izbranega časovnega obdobja za zavarovanje odgovornosti smo analizirali tudi posledice zavarovalniških goljufij neobveznih zavarovanj. Ugotovili smo, da je razširjenost goljufij na tem področju izjemno visoka. Skoraj polovica vseh zahtevkov, ki jih oškodovanci naslovijo na zavarovalnico, je prirejenih, izvajajo pa jih predvsem priložnostni storilci, običajno v sodelovanju z zavarovancem. Rezultati analize internih spisov so pokazali, da je nezanemarljiv del goljufij povzročen s strani oškodovančevih odvetnikov. Ugotovili smo tudi, da goljufije na tem področju bolj kot na dvig premije, vplivajo na spremembe pogojev. Na podlagi ugotovitev menimo, da bodo zavarovalnice morale na področju zavarovanja splošne odgovornosti bodisi posvetiti večjo pozornost odkrivanju goljufivih zahtevkov bodisi poostriti zavarovalne pogoje. Predlagamo, da zavarovalnice začnejo slediti škodnemu dogajanju, pri odkrivanju goljufij pa se osredotočiti tudi na odvetnike oškodovancev.Insurance fraud is a social phenomenon which is inseparable from the existence of insurance companies. It represents a major problem within the Slovenian territory as well as elsewhere in the world and is continuously changing along with the changes in society or measures imposed by insurance companies. For every insurance employee that tries to uncover fraudulent claims there are thousands of dishonest people seeking opportunity for easy money. Insurance fraud varies greatly depending on the class of business and yet no single class is excluded from it. This thesis examines insurance fraud from a very narrow section of insurance business, general liability insurance. It is a specific insurance that protects insured from most liability exposures other than motor, vessel and plane liability and covers damages caused by insured. We have focused on loss events in which claimants have suffered body injuries. By analysing internal claims of Generali zavarovalnica d.d. Ljubljana we have examined prevalence rate of insurance fraud on general liability insurance and have researched who is committing them, how and why. We have also analysed claimants\u27 Lawyers\u27 role in filing of the fraudulent claims. Comparative method of insurance conditions of specific period done by this thesis helped us analyse consequences that insurance fraud have on non compulsory insurance. We found vast prevalence of insurance fraud in this area. Almost half of all claims filed for insurance company are modified to the extend of becoming deceptive. Most of those claims are filed by ordinary people with a help of insured. Insurance fraud was mostly done by occasional offenders and not by career criminals. The result of the analysis of internal claims shows inconsiderable amount of fraudulent cases filed by claimant\u27s lawers. We have also found that insurance fraud has greater impact of changes in conditions rather than increasing premium prices. Based on the findings, we believe that insurance companies will have to increase focus on insurance fraud or to tighten insurance conditions especially on general liability insurance. We suggest that insurance companies start following recent damage events and reform fraud prevention, focusing also on claimant\u27s Lawers

The role of phenotypic plasticity of life history and behavioural traits during speciation processes in Acanthoscelides obtectus

Fenotipska plastičnost, kao univerzalno svojstvo svih organizama, predstavlja sposobnost jednog genotipa da u različitim uslovima životne sredine razvije različite fenotipske vrednosti osobina. Ovaj fenomen predstavlja važan mehanizam fenotipskog variranja insekatа i nalazi se u osnovi formiranja različitih pravaca evolucionih promena njihovih populacija uzrokujući adaptivnu divergenciju i posledičnu međupopulacionu reproduktivnu izolaciju. Od posebne važnosti je i uloga fenotipske plastičnosti u procesima ekološke specijacije, kada ekološki zasnovana divergentna selekcija između životnih sredina ograničava protok gena između populacija. Koristeći pogodnosti laboratorijske evolucije, ova studija proučava osobine životne istorije, njihova međusobna ograničenja i obrasce plastičnih odgovora, populaciono-ekološke i selekcione obrasce kao i promenu reproduktivnog ponašanja kod dve grupe laboratorijskih populacija fitofagnog insekta, Acanthoscelides obtectus, koje su evoluirale na različitim biljkama domaćinima (pasulj, Phaseolus vulgaris i naut, Cicer arietinum). Populacije selektovane na različitim biljkama pokazuju jasne razlike u životnim strategijama i stepenu plastičnosti osobina životne istorije i ponašanja. Načelno, populacije selektovane na pasulju imaju izraženiju sposobnost plastičnog odgovora na variranje identiteta biljke domaćina u poređenju sa populacijama selektovanim na nautu. Selekcioni režimi pokazuju i umeren stepen reproduktivne izolacije čime se ističe značaj divergentne selekcije u početnim fazama procesa nastanka novih vrsta.Phenotypic plasticity, a universal feature of all organisms, represents genotypes’ ability to produce alternative phenotypes in different environmental conditions. In insects, this phenomenon represents an important mechanism of phenotypic variation and it is fundamental for the establishment of different evolutionary trajectories of their populations causing adaptive divergence and consequential interpopulation reproductive isolation. Phenotypic plasticity is of particular importance during the process of ecological speciation, when ecologically based divergent selection between environments reduces gene flow among populations. Using the benefits of laboratory evolution, this study investigates life history traits, their trade-offs and plasticity patterns, population dynamics and selection patterns, as well as changes in reproductive behaviour, in two sets of laboratory populations of a phytophagous insect, Acanthoscelides obtectus, evolved on different host plants (white beans, Phaseolus vulgaris and chickpeas, Cicer arietinum). Populations selected on different plant hosts demonstrate distinct life history strategies and plasticity levels of life history and behavioural traits. Generally, populations selected on beans demonstrate prominent ability to plastically respond to host plant variation compared to chickpea selected populations. Selection regimes demonstrate moderate level of reproductive isolation emphasizing the importance of divergent selection in the first phases of the speciation

Potential for <i>Acanthoscelides obtectus</i> to Adapt to New Hosts Seen in Laboratory Selection Experiments

Effective pest management strategies for a targeted pest species must rely on accurate, reliable and reproducible estimates of population dynamics. Importance of such approaches is even more conspicuous when assessing pest&#8217;s potential to utilize other stored products. Using an experimental evolution approach, we have focused our attention on a common bean pest, the seed beetle (Acanthoscelides obtectus). We looked into the potential to invade and sustain population growth on two suboptimal host plants (chickpeas and mung beans). Such an approach simulates steps of the host-shift process in storages. By analyzing population dynamics during initial encountering with a new host plant, we detected a population drop for both novel hosts. However, transgenerational development in a novel environment resulted in a constant population growth in chickpeas, but not in mung bean populations. Reversal of chickpea selected populations to original host plant has led to a severe decrease in population parameters due to low viability of immatures, while the opposite trend was detected in mung bean populations. This paper highlights the importance of good practice in estimating population dynamics for economically important species. With special emphasis on storage pest species, we discuss how this approach can be useful for estimating invading potential of pest insects

The growth on different stored legume species affects the profiles of cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) in Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say)

Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) is a widespread pest of stored products from Fabaceae family. The evolution of this species is associated with common bean domestication and the ability to invade other hosts in storages. To analyze the role of diverse nutrition in the ability of insects to shift to another host species we tested the effects of nutrition history on composition of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), the compounds that have various ecological and reproductive functions in insects. The study was performed on A. obtectus laboratory populations which were bred for 51 generations either on common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris (L), or on chickpea, Cicer arietinum (L), a novel and less suitable species for larval development. To obtain conclusions about short-term nutritional effects, we tested whether exposure of seed weevils to alternative hosts for just one generation might influence CHC composition. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses were performed and compounds' relative abundances were computed from the corresponding GC-FID peak areas. A total of 21 compounds were identified, among which 38% showed significant abundance differences between selection regimes and for 33% of compounds short-term developmental effects were revealed. All except three compounds showed significant differences between genders. We hypothesized that long-term changes in quantitative levels of specific CHC compounds were the results of diverse selection pressures on weevils' metabolic pathways induced by chemically divergent hosts. However, long-term adaptations to host species did not influence the ability of A. obtectus to quickly respond to chemical specificities of novel hosts (i.e., short-term effects were significant) which could be one of the major reasons for the great expansiveness of this species. Differences in relative CHCs abundances between sexes implied their roles in chemical communication and mate recognition systems. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Ministry of Education and Science of Serbia [173007